HC quashes FIR against businessman accused of molestation

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has quashed an FIR lodged against a city businessman, accused of molesting a woman, after she withdrew the allegation.

The HC action came after the woman filed an affidavit withdrawing the charges levelled against the businessman, Bhavin Parikh, who was arrested after the FIR was filed.

Parikh had later moved the court seeking quashing of the FIR and the woman, in her reply, had given consent for withdrawing the proceedings.

A division bench, on April 20, directed Marine Drive Police to quash the FIR and release Parikh if he is not required in any other case.

In their order, justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai said, “Pending investigation, the parties have settled their dispute amicably and in pursuance of understanding between them, they have urged for quashing the proceedings of FIR.”

“The respondent has also filed an affidavit giving no objection to quash the proceedings in the said FIR. She has also stated that she is giving no objection out of her own free will and without there being any force or coercion,” the Judges noted.

“We are of the view that the dispute is of personal nature and as such there is no impediment to quashing the criminal complaint,” the bench noted and cited a Supreme Court judgement (Narinder Singh vs State of Punjab), which it said, applies in the current case.

However, the bench asked the petitioner (Parikh) to pay Rs 10,000 cost to the High Court Library, saying it is condition precedent.